Earthdawn 4E: Anatomy of a Thread Item 42 - Haddy's Hard Bargain

This is the forty-second 4E Anatomy of a Thread Item, an ongoing series about Earthdawn Fourth Edition. Introduction and Index.

Everything contained here is the work of a fan and not associated with FASA Games.

A thread item written for an online game I offered to help with thread items. This was written with the request of an amulet with a standard matrix. That's pretty straight forward. For whatever reason, I decided not to be straight forward and recalled a previous thread item for this character. Haddy's Hard Bargain isn't the first time she's made an appearance here. And I do hope this won't be her last.


Haddy's Hard Bargain

Maximum Threads: 2
Mystic Defense: 12

Legend Point Cost: Journeyman

“A little too large and a lot too ostentatious” is how this amulet would be described by most. The gold amulet is held by a thick golden chain, while the amulet itself is studded with rubies and emeralds framing chocolate diamonds forming a rampant bear. The gold and gems never lose their high polish and always manage to catch the light. On the reverse of the amulet are the stylized initials “HH.”

The amulet automatically resizes to the wearer when a thread is attached, but is always a little larger than feels appropriate. If the wearer attempts to conceal the amulet, such as wearing it under a shirt, they cannot use its effects.

Thread Rank One
Key Knowledge: The owner must learn the amulet’s Name.
Effect: The amulet contains a Standard Matrix with rank equal to the Thread Rank.

Thread Rank Two
Effect: The wearer gains +1 rank to Haggle or a +1 bonus to Haggle tests.

Thread Rank Three
Key Knowledge: The owner must learn who crafted the amulet and where the gems were mined.
Effect: The wearer gains +1 to their Social Defense.

Thread Rank Four
Effect: The wearer gains +1 rank to Book Memory.

Thread Rank Five
Key Knowledge: The owner must learn the first owner’s Name and the significance of the colors, imagery, and initials on the amulet.
Deed: The owner must fashion and wear a symbol of the first owner’s family.
Effect: The wearer gains a +2 bonus to Interaction tests if they offer an appropriate financial upside to the other party. This doesn’t have to be directly offering money, but must be sincere and useful to the other party.

Thread Rank Six
Effect: The wearer gains a +2 ranks to Haggle or a +2 bonus to Haggle tests.



























































If you have to ask, “Can this be combined with the Rank Two effect so I can get 1 rank and +2 to it?” Go sit in the corner and know you are either deliberately obtuse only for the sake of getting bonuses.